Nepal to sign two more agreements with China

By Nandalal Tiwari, Beijing, May 13: A couple of days after signing the Memorandum of Understanding on Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with China, Nepal is signing two more agreements with the northern neighbor on Sunday.

An agreement on upgrading the Syaphrubesi-Rasuwagadhi section of the Kathmandu-Rasuwa road with the Chinese assistance and an agreement on the cross border economic zone at the Nepal-China border is being singed during this visit, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara said Saturday addressing a reception hosted in his honour at the Nepalese embassy in Beijing, China.

Leading an 11-member delegation, DPM Mahara arrived here this afternoon to participate in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held here on May 14-15. DPM Mahara is accompanied by Information and Communications Minister Surendra Karki and Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Ramesh Lekhak.

Some 29 head of state and government, 1500 representatives including minsters from 130 countries and 70 international organisations are participating in the Belt and Road Forum which will be covered by some 4,000 journalists from around the world.

With focus on peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefit, the Belt and Road Forum is themed as Belt and Road cooperation for common prosperity.

Initiated with a view to reinvigorating the ancient Silk Road and maritime silk road, the China-led BRI is focused on connecting some 65 countries of Asia, Europe and Africa particularly by means of roadways and railways and thus enhance development in all aspects including trade and investment.

DPM Mahara will deliver speech in the seminar on connectivity of development policies and strategies to be held Sunday as part of the Belt and Road Forum.

“Following the signing of the MoU on the BRI and this BR Forum, we have expected an easy way to mobilise international resources for developing infrastructures in countries like ours,” DPM Mahara said.

Saying that the cross border economic zone will make it even easier for the Chinese business community to investment in Nepal, DPM Mahara assured the Chinese investors that the Nepalese government was ready to guarantee security of their investment and make environment for trade and investment.

Welcoming the Nepalese delegation at the embassy, Nepalese ambassador to China, Leela Mani Paudyal, expressed happiness over the signing of the MoU on BRI and the readiness to sign two more agreements related to upgrading of the road and the cross border economic zone. “But we have to work efficiently and effectively to reap the benefits of the BRI.”

Besides representatives of the Nepalese community in Beijing, former Chinese ambassadors to Nepal, Chinese experts on Nepal and South Asia and some Chinese businessmen were present in the reception.